Wind-deflector.



H. L. VAN Zug. WIND DEFLEGTGR.

APPLICATION FILED A UG.21, 1912.

l @UWM Patented. A113226, i913.

VIl() HARRY L. VAN ZILE, OF NEW YORK, N. il'.

WIND-DEFLECTOR.

i ,origen .7b all whom '25 may concern i lle it known that- I, Hanniy L. VAN Zinn,

:i citizen of the United States, and residentof the borough of ll/lanliattan, in the countyol New York and State of New Yorlnhave invented certain ne and useful improvements in lViiid-Detiectors, oit' which thev .following is a specification.

This invention relates to a` device for de fleeting currents of air or other fluids.

One of the objects of the invention is the production of a dellector lwhich will collect and subdivide into stratay a portion ot' thc encountered current. and to eondiietthese strata against another portion of the same currei'it at a different level in such a manner that the strata will assist each otherin imparting the maximum deviation Jroinfits f-(pii'se'to the latter portion ot' said current, .so as to'obtain' the largest zone ot quiescent medium in rear of the deflected currents.

Another object is to provide a del-lector wherein the stratitiedcurrents are received tangentiall and are rotected 'trom trictionally interfering with each other by internal impingement, during their travel from 'entrance to exit.

A further object is to provide a detlector wherein the exits ot' the defiected current sti-ata terminate in the same' plane substantially parallel to the direction of movement' inn order that the outiiowiiig ciirreuts'niay reinforce each other and thus maintain their velocity as long as possible so as to deflect the intersected portion of the current to the maximum distance .from the detlector.

A still further object is to provide a de- Hector the location of which is Within the projected vertical ciosssectioiial area ot a vehicle and below the line of sight of the driver so as not to add to the air resistancc.

and ceoiiomical fletlectoi' constructed in aA durable manner which can be collal'ised to occupy the inininuun space when not in use, und also adjusted into desired position.

Other objects and :u'lvantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

to the direction of movement,"

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 21, 1912.

llateiited .fi u 2li, ifiit I?,

Serial No. 716,234.

Devices heretofore in use for protecting` the occupants ot an automobile from exces- 'sive Wind pressure or dust, have been cou structed Wit-h a view or either pushing` the air in front of them, as in' the case ot' the conventional glass-shield; or with thepurposeof making the wind slideup on a curved surface oran inclined plane to pass over the heads of the people seated in the car, as used for insta-nce in hoods of various shapes. In the-former case, notonly an excessive resistance is developed which inipedes the speed of the' car, but eddies are also created that cause the side currents to close in with increased force on the persons seated in rear of the front or drivers seat. Moreover the fragile nature of glass makes it always a source of danger and severe accidents have happened when automobiles have been brought to ay sudden stop? causing the occupants to be thrown against or through the glass front. 1With hoods the sliding eliect is very much reduced. because the wind has been given a reversed curve With the object. of defiecting the encountered air ciir rent, but due to the fact that this curved portion has been leftexpos'ed, higher streams q or current-s have impinged directly on the current being detlected so much so as to reduce its velocity so that it was simply t'oieed rearwardly over the edge back into the chautl'eui"s face. l v

By the design ezt the present invention a wind or current detlector avoiding the hereinbet'ore mentioned objections is produced. n its preferred embodiment the device under consideration comprises al number of.

curved vanos of progressively increasing lengths associated ivitlrangular side pieces in suclia mannerthat'a wedgelike structure is produced, through which a plurality of passages having gradual bends are formed,

'and furthermore Vthe arrangement ot these passages is such that they receive t-h'e encountered current tangentially at their entrances which are in odset relation to each llO ' other. The subdivided lcurrents or sti-ata are pi'otectedfrom each other and from thev 'inan body of the air encounteredby the .-defiector, [and issue in a forward direction through exits disposed Vin the saine plane.

-The device may he adjusted in'its entirety for 'the-purpose of meeting different condin tions or may have its volume changed.

' is adapted for any l By preference the invention is vapplied to usagel in connection kwith automobiles hut vit is'understood that no limitation either toy quiescent zone Adiuview vof F ig. l, parts being shown yin section.

Fig is a fragmentary plan view of a col.

lapsible' detlector,. extended. Fig. et is -a section on the line i-J1 of Fig.` 3.' F ig. 5 Ais a view similar to Fig. e, showing the defiecto'r collapsed. Fig. 6 is a. diagrammatic sectional view of the detlector, showing the action between the air currents. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of an automobile showing a modification of the deiector.v

. Fig. 8 is a 'plan view of a detached deector Y of 'another modified form, and Fig'. 9 is a section on the line 9- 9 of Fig. 8.

lnl these Iviews the numeral l0 represents curved vanes or shields which arc'spaced a certain distance apart so that a Vplurality of passages l1 having gradual bends are. formed between them. These vanes are of variforni 'but similar nature and are arranged in such a manner that the shortest and sharpest curved passage first encounters the air currents or winds with the adjacent passages disposed serially, one after the other., in order, according to sizes or lengths. The entrancesl2 to said passages are tangential to the currents so'as to collect the maximum amount thereof andto deflect-the strata gradually, and they may be either' above' or below the exits 13 as Figs. 2 and 4 or. 6 respectively represent. ln the pre ferred ,form of the invention thevanes or partitions 10 between the passages, at the entrances of the latter, are offset back of one -a path of constantly chan in lessened,I eddying is'rediiced, and, the air another and at diiferent levels at at a Fig. 6 to reduce the length of the vpassages to va minimum'l By the segregation or formation of air strat-a currents, the internal friction of the air particles traveling in direction is being' deflected in thed eflector, is protected from the main bod of incoming air which imp inges against t e delector and is split gible portion of the' airgtraveling 'through .ing included between thel'ower' edge of one each passage is subject lateral pressure' and consequent 'disturbance and internal",

friction hy the main body of encountered I incoming air.. This traveling stratum isy representedby the shadedfarea in Fig.' Ghevanef and the horizontal line b drawn .from the lower edge of the adjacent vane.-

the passages.` `The energy .oftheair due Y either to its own velocity or to the speed of the moving 'vehicle is thereby utilized to the best advantage. The'passag'e ofthe air between the gradually curved rvane's merely changes its direction, while its initial velooityiis maintained as 'nearly asA possible the same from entrance to exit, ,less of course the skin friction of the said vanes.

It will be` understood that the vanes should not be placed too close, together, and conversely that they'should not be placed too far apart. ln one case skin friction would become excessive, in' the other case internal friction and lateral pressure would be unduly increased. I have found that vaines spaced about apart for the head deiiector and 1'. apart for the vehicle detiector have iven satisfactor results. rllhis snacing has of course to be proportioned accordp Ving to the amount of air handled.

The diierent'passages have their .exits terminating in .the same plane and 4issue preferably forwardly, by Avirtue of which the forces of the out-i'iowii'igl currents support one another and collectively maintain the maximum velocity, and as they are'conducted angularly againstanother portion ofy j the same current .moving at va diierentslevel,

this rlatter portion will'have its direction 'changed as far forward as possible and it `will he given the greatest deviation from its ycourse iii-orderto obtain a quiescent zone of maximum dimensions in the rear of the delector. i

rn their preferred embodiments the said vanesl l0 are composed of circular arcs Whose, centersv are located on a line c median between the lines marked respectively ci and e of thev entrances and exits of the passages 11 (Fig. 6).*:Th'e vertical distance j on the line c from the center of the arc of each vane to the-line'or plane of the-exits e is considerably less than the distance g from the saine center to -a line it parallel with e and tangent to the lower edge of thevane. Fig. 6 illusportion of the air stratum moving between 5% will have a. larger Aleverage g than of the outgoing portion f Also due izo ,each pair of vanes `below a horizontal line up in separate streams. Thus, only a neglif, v .that

norme() to this preponderance ot the intake column which is constantly acted upon by the air current flowing into the mouth or entrance l2 of the passage ll there is less loss ot' velocity head of each current stratum, than if the intake and outgoing columns were nearer equal. ln fact, the least lossi of velocity head eXists with an intake radius ot l to an outlet of 0, such as for instance is illustrated in Fig. S). lVhen this construction is used the turning ot' the air currents takes "place farther back than with the type ot detlector shown by the diagram in Fig. (l.

The delector represented in Figs. l and 2 is for use in connection with the head or headgear of a chauffeur or aviator, to defleet the Wind away from the eyes of the person. Here the intake is above the plane of issuance of the current strata. A strap 18 serves to fasten the device in position, the space 19 between the last vane and the persons head being occupied bypad or other means of similar nature which renders the device comfortable to the wearer. There it is deemed expedient a shield or collector 20 may be employed to' increase the wind catching suriaee of the defleetor.

The construction shown in Figs. 3, al and 5 represents a device wherein the vanes are collapsible into each other so as to occupy the smallest space possible when notl in use. The vanos are here provided at each end with slides 25 having tail portions 26 secured thereto. These slides run in guides 27 formed on trout side-pieces 28 which are hinged at 38 to rear side-pieces 29 fixed to the last orlargest'vane. lT he length of slide .includes three vanes but is only fastened to one of them' A cpt the two outer ones which are secured Yhe same slide, because they come withinithe rear side pieces 29 when the front side-pieces 28 ane folded inwardly over the collapsed vanes (Fig. For the sake of simplicity only one hall of each side piece is shown as. having slides andguides butlit will be understood that the latter will s he"provided on both sides of the center line of the vanes to obtain proper alinement. In order thatl the-slides'inay engage and operate each other when the vanes are pulled out or pushed in, they are provided with dogs and abutments 30 and 3l respectively. The dog of one slide operates between an abutment and a dog on the adjacent slide so as to move the latter forward and back. rlhe lvanes are also provided with resilient ears 32 which Wedgingly engage flanges 33 .oir-the edges of the front side pieces OQ nel,

i when the said vanesware in their extended position to hold them fronrrattling. As shown. the forward vane 'of thedetlector is provided with a bar 3l having 'its ends beveled as at These beveled portions are engaged by springactuated plungers one of which is shown at 3G, which plungers tend.

rrckcd the delector in its entirety isbrought rearwardly so as to permit the same to be opened. lHandle screws i5 clamp the rod 40, in any desired position, tightly in the split brackets 4l.

ln Fig, 7 is illustrated a deflector having endwise projecting portions 50, 5l of different formation and provided with vertical `partitions 52, to subdivide and deflect encountered side currents. In this as well as previous instances the dimensions of the de! llector fall Within the projected of the automobile, by virtue of which the resistance offered is considerably less than when a straight. or slantwise extending body carried up tothe level or' the operators eyes is pushed through the air, while at the same time the trajectory of the deflected current is high enough to cause no inconvenience to the occupants of the vehicle. A

Fig. 8` shows a curved detlecton applicable either'to the pilot house of a vessel or to the cab or platform of atrain or trolley car. Fig. y9 which is a central. section of the preceding figure shows the intake of each succeedingpassage in advance of the intake of the passage next. above and having the passage 'exits disposed substantially right angularly relative to their entrances. rlhis construction may be utilized When'certain conditions must be harmonized as in static structures and the like.

Two or more delectors may be used in conjunction with each other. For example, two of them may be used with their exit ortions disposed towardeach other, that-.1s to to each other.

Having described my invention what l desire to secure by Letters Patent and' claim 1s:--

. l. A deflector having a plurality ot passages .ot'progressively increasing lengths one behind another formed to subdivide a portion of the encountered or encountering current and to conduct the subdivided stream so as to issue cross-wise to another portion of the current at a. ditl'erentrlevel.

gradually curved vanes one behind another for-mine a lurallt of iassaffes nonres- .e v .e e

slvely mcreaslng 1n lengths which subdivide yinto strataa portion et" lthe encountered or say, in the relation that Figs. 2 and l bear' from its posit-ion over the motor-hood 44k l its ritt

lit

reo,

2. A dee'ctor comprising a plurality of; -t

.ist

encountering air, deflect the said strata and deliver them cross-wise. to' another l portion of the current ata different level. 3. A deiector lcomprising a plurality .of

curved vanes aiording strata-forming passages having entranceends and exit ends at ,different levels', said vanes being 'disposedf rearwardly 'of one another and formedls'o as.

7 to receive the air tangentiallypfor theiull 10". .e and to deliver the strata cross-wise tothe; air l Wise of the depth at the entrance ends of the passages liowing past their delivery ends.

A deflector comprising a plurality of curved vanes. of different lengthsone behind another aording .a plurality of' Strata- -forming passages having their enit ends at' the same level'and' their' Yentrance ends at different levels. Y

5.r A 'delector comprising-a plurality of curved jvanes of, different lengthsV arranged serially' according V`to lengt-hs constituting means for subdividing a portion of the encountered or encountering current into strata, of changing direction .and for protecting said strata until they passbeyond the lines of the` defiector and' issue crossportion of the currentatthat level. 1

6. A deiiector comprisinga plurality' of vanes lhaving differential curvature one be` hind the other affording a plurality of` passagesserially increasing'in length adapted` to .subdivide a portion of the encountered orencountering air and to cause the resultcurved. vanes one behind the other, of proing streams to issue cross-wise to another 'portion of the air current'at a diilerent level, the vexit portion' of saidpassages belng ar ranged-to' direct the issuingstreams forward. s

. 7.,Adeliector comprising a plurality of gressively increasing length and decreasing curvature, said vanes'afording'a plurality of varifomn passages to subdivide a portion,

of'thevencountered and encountering air and to direct it against,l another portion of the air current 'at a di'erent level so as to cause the latter to deviate from its course. 8. A deector, comprising a plurality of curved vanes of dierent lengths seriallyl disposed rearwardly of one another according to curvature and'aording a plurality of passages to subdivide a portion of the encountered `or encountering air and to cause the streams to issue against another portion of the air current at a ldiierent level, said vanes being movable to receive one another "for purposes of collapsin 9. A deliectorycomprising a plurality of dierentially curved vanes arranged serlally according to curvature affording a plurality of passages of varying lengths adapted to sulghdividea portion of the encountered .or-

encountering air land yto cause the streams to issue against anothporton of the current atta different level. means `foreollapsing` said` varies together by moving them within one another or for opening them in spaced relation, and other mea ns for locking therein their assigned position.

10. In a deector, the combination or side-pieces, a plurality of curved vanes therebetween'a'ording a plurality of defleeting passages substantially as described,A l

and slides whereby said vanes are guided on isaid' side piecesso askto be nested together or opened in spaced relation. f

llQIn a deiiector,:.the combination of a .plurality 'of curved vanes affording a plurality of deflecting passages 'substantially-as described, means for guiding and supporting saidvanes so as to benested together jor opened in spaced relation, and limit stops between the vanes.

12.- In a deliector,l the combination ora plurality of. curved varies affording a pluralityof deilecting passages substantially as described, means Vfor collapsing-said vanes' 1n nested condition, means for locking them Aopen' in spaced relation, andmeans for keeping them `from rattlin '13. A deilector, comprising a plurality of dilierentially curved vanes having their cen- ,ters' disposedv substantiallyfvon'the same' line, 'a Ording a plurality of Variform passages .of variform passages for subdividing aportion of the encountered or encountering. au',

changing the direction of the streams from their intakes and delivering them forwardly cross-Wise against another portion of the air currentA at a level either above or below said intakes, and-means for holding the device in its assignedposltion.

15. A deilector containing a plurality of curved passagesv of different lengths arranged in graduated series-one behind the other and having their exit ends inthe same plane, said passages subdividing one .por-l tion ofthe encountered-,or encountering current into a plurality lof strata reinforcing each other and delivering them-zcrosswise to the portion of the Acurrent at a Vdiiierent level from said exit ends. A f

16. A' deflector comprising a plurality of curved vanes one behind the other a'or ing a' plurality of passages to subdivide a portion of the encountered or encountering air and cause it to issue crosswise to another portion of the air at a different level, both .the entrance and exit portions of said pas- Lorusso sages being directed forward, and the intake column portion having preponderance over the exit column portion.

, ends respectively 17. A deflector comprising a plurality of curved varies, one behind the other affording a plurality of passages of progressively increasing length to subdivide a portion of the encountered or encountering air and cause the streams thereof to .issue crosswise to a portion of the air at a diferent level, adjacent vanes being spaced at approximately the same distance frbm entrance to *exit and the vanes having their entrance and exit brought into 4alirieinent behind one another.

18. In a delector, the combination of side members comprising fixed and hinged portions, the latter ybeing adapted to fold in- Ward, a plurality of vanes affording a nunsn ber of deflecting passages substantially as described, and means guiding said venes on said fixed portions so that the venes will be nested together or opened in spaced relation lcetv'veen said hinged portions.

` y19. a deflector, the combination of side pieces'-"a plurality of curved vanes therebetpeextaording a plurality of delecting passages substantially as described, and means whereby said venes are guided relatively to one another so as to be nested together or opened in spaced relation.

'20. A dei-lector` for the purposes described, composed of angular side pieces having their apices directed forward, and a Wedgelike series of differentially curved vanes. located between said side pieces.

2l. A deliector for the purposes described., consisting of a wedgelilre structure having a graduated series of through passages of curved formation.

22. A deilector forthe purposes described,

comprising a series of curved venes disposed one behind another in Wedgelllre arrangement, side supports therefor, and dexible connections between said venes and said supports.

Signed at the boron h of Manhattan in the countyof New Yer and'State oit New- .moet this patent' may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the .foznmlaspuer el` Puthntt,

y unummgten,n. c. y c 

